What Are N-Scale Trolleys?

By Garth Hamilton, edited by R. D. Kerr
(Information as it was in the 2002-2008 era)

Trolleys are electric streetcars and interurban cars operating from an overhead wire (or in some cases a third rail to one side of the track at ground level). Third rail is a common way to power subway trains or street cars operating in underground tunnel systems below city streets.

In N-scale, modeling trolleys is not a common sight at shows, but it has been around for almost 20 years in limited amounts. This is basically because you have to build your own equipment, and trolley poles are a problem to make and operate reliably. Operating from overhead wire using a pantograph is more common today with new surface systems that are being installed in many cities in North America, as mass transit starts its resurgence.

The Tomix "Mini Fine Track" series offers curved track with smaller radii than normal Fine Track. This makes it ideal for N-gauge trolley layouts. The main radius is 140 mm (5.5 inches), but there is a larger 177 mm radius (7 inches) and also a smaller "Super Mini" curve with 103 mm radius (4 inches). The 140 mm radius is also used by the Mini switches (points), and that is why we designate it as the main radius. Some articulated trolley models and coupled trains of trolleys do not like the Super Mini 103 mm radius, so most users are standardizing on the 140 mm and 177 mm Mini sizes for general dual track operations. Some are using the 103 mm radius curves and only operate single-unit streetcars or trams that can handle this tight curve. Tomix also produces paved street straight, curved and crossing track pieces. These are compatible with the Tomix Operating Bus System roadway pieces.

Kato offers its "Unitram" paved street series, with dual track straight, curved, crossing and junction pieces that can create city blocks. Kato also produces a series of tight-radius ballasted "Compact Curved Track" with radii of 117 mm (4.6 inches), 150 mm (5.9 inches) and 183 mm (7.2 inches).

In the ready-to-run category, there is not much available. From Bachmann there is the PCC (President's Conference Committee car) and the Brill Trolley. From Model Power there is a four-wheel trolley with a matching trailer. None of them operate from overhead, and they have plastic poles. They can be made to run from powered overhead trolley wire, but do not come ready to operate that way.

If you go to the following pages, you will see what has been happening in Japan. Modemo is the premier manufacturer of quality trolleys, some of which would be at home on North American streets. Again, as supplied, they are not equipped for operating from the overhead. Kato has made a few models of small 2-axle European Trams. Tomix and Green Max have also made a few trolley models amongst their collection of traction models of equipment that operates in Japan. There is also another manufacturer in Austria, whose name I do not know, but the product is available from Aspen Models in the USA.

Back to www.trainweb.org/n-trolleys/index.htm N-Trolleys main page